Steven Matz and Seth Lugo will test out their arms for the Mets on Wednesday, but don't get hopes up

Wednesday will be a day that could really get your hopes up if you are a Mets fan. After three weeks, Steven Matz, who began the season on the disabled list with elbow discomfort, will begin his throwing program. Seth Lugo, who was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament on Opening Day, will also attempt to throw for the first time.

And third baseman David Wright will return to baseball activities.

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It sounds encouraging, doesn't it, but as is always the case with the Mets and injuries, there may be hope, but never straight forward answers.

The Mets still have no timetable for any one of those three players to return this season, according to Sandy Alderson, who indicated their returns are still weeks away.

As for anything more specific, don't ask.

For Matz, mid-May is possible with a "question mark," and "realistically expecting" to see Wright play again this season was as close as the Mets GM would go in terms of timetables.

There always seems to be complications with Mets' rehabs, so timetables are useless anyway. Just take a look at Wright. He started a long-toss program 10 days ago, but had to be shut down for a week with a lower back issue and the flu, Alderson revealed reluctantly Tuesday.

"He actually had the flu the last week or so, but also he had stopped for a short period because of discomfort in his lower back," Alderson said, but then he added that he didn't believe it would be a "concern."

Considering Wright has played just 75 regular-season games over the last two years because of spinal stenosis and surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck, any back issue is a red flag. Wright did take batting practice and stretched before Tuesday night's series opener against the Phillies, but he is a "long ways away," according to some in the organization.

Still Alderson said he believes Wright will be back in the Mets lineup at some point this season.

"I am realistically expecting to see him this year," Alderson said. "I don't have any real way of projecting a timetable. I think we're going to be patient about that. But we certainly haven't given up hope of seeing him here in 2017 by any means."

And the Mets still don't know what is wrong with Matz.

Alderson said there is still no clear diagnosis. Team doctors said there was nothing wrong with his surgically-repaired elbow. The lefthander, who went for his own second opinion, said on Opening Day that he has a flexor tendon strain.

So with no clear diagnosis, the Mets are simply handing his rehab on the basis of feel.

Seth Lugo is hoping to avoid Tommy John surgery. (John Bazemore/AP)

"We move forward in the absence of symptoms," Alderson said.

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So Matz, who had Tommy John surgery in 2010 and a bone spur removed this offseason, will continue to go through a progression as long as he feels no discomfort in the elbow. He and Lugo will begin a throwing program, long toss at 75 feet on Wednesday. They will progress when and if they feel OK after that.

For Matz, it is likely the beginning of a long-rehab process that could take up to a month, building up to 150 feet on long toss before even getting on a mound.

For Lugo, however, this is a big test to see if he will be able to avoid Tommy John surgery through a program of therapy and throwing.

"I think we have to wait until he starts throwing," Alderson said of knowing if Lugo will be able to avoid surgery. "The purpose of the rest was to let it quiet down and then crank it back up and see how it responds. I don't think we have anymore real information now than we had a couple of weeks ago and the hope as time goes on, that he responds well and there are no more setbacks."

The Mets could certainly use these guys. A healthy Matz would take the pressure off the rotation and Lugo would be a huge boost to the bullpen. Having Wright back in the lineup would be a big bat and as well as the emotional boost of the captain's return.

So, Wednesday is a day that could get your hopes up as a Mets fans, if only there wasn't that nagging history of the Mets and their injuries.